The Brothers Johnson* – Light Up The Night

For some reason, you can still find these guys in dollar bins. And if you do find them, you should be grabbing them. Any Johnson Brothers album is going to be worth way more than the few dollars you are paying for it in of the pure enjoyment you will get out of listening to it.

Album Revolution #4:

After having 3 Platinum albums in the row, you would think that things would slow down for "The Brothers Johnson"...But it would be the total OPPOSITE!!!! With "Quincy Jones" still in the Producers chair, the Brothers would Release, "Light Up The Night"....

There would be a MOUNTAIN of "Q's" Friends helping out on this Project like Keyboard Wizard, "Greg Phillinganes", "John Robinson" ("Rufus & Chaka Khan" Drummer), and Songwriting from "Q's" NEW best Friend, "Rod Temperton" who was with the "Disco Supergroup", "Heatwave"....There was also help from "The Brothers Johnson's" own Band, including Cousin, "Alex Weir" and "Richard Heath"....

With that said, we start with the RUMPIN', BUMPIN' "Stomp"!!!!!!

This t right here, OOOHHH WEEEEE!!!!! This BOMB is not only FUNKY, it has a Danceable appeal that just BLOWS your MIND!!! There are NO FLAWS in this song, from the "Louis Bass", "George Guitar", "Greg Synthesizer" and the "Rod Electric Piano"...I also LOVE the length of this 6 minute SMASH, with the FANTASTIC "Louis Bass Break Down" toward the end, with Horn Back up....This no doubt FILLED the Dancefloors, and THANK GOODNESS, because it came right before the "Disco Sucks Movement"...But the strange thing is that, even after the Movement, "Stomp" and "The Brothers Johnson" were NEVER affected...Go figure!!!!!

The "Title Track" also has just as much BUMP as "Stomp"!!! No doubt using ALL of the same Elements of "Stomp", this too made People SWEAT ALL OVER the Dancefloor!!!!!

We continue the Party with "You Make Me Wanna Wiggle"....This one has a little more "Brothers Johnson" Vibes than "Q"...That's ok though, because I'm sure "Q" was in the Booth GETTING DOWN to this FUNKY BOMB!!!! (LOL!!!!) Cousin "Alex" also helps "George" on Co-Lead Vocals...

I have to it, I never really paid attention to "Treasure"...Written by "Rod Templeton", this time we have "Richard Heath" on Lead Vocals...This Smooth jam is what People kept telling me I would Love...THEY WERE RIGHT!!!! I am also "Shaking My Head", because that means that this was another song that "Heatwave" turned down from "Rod", for he ALWAYS offered them first dibs...WOW!!!!!!

The 2nd Side starts with the Break Beat Vibe of "This Had To Be"...The Brothers make this Funky t sound so Upbeat and Fun, even though it is about breaking up with someone....The soon to be "King Of POP", "Michael Jackson" comes in to lend some Background Vocal Vibe as well...

"All About The Heaven" is a Smooth t that FITS for the Brothers, making the album flow....Written by "Rod Templeton", I again have the strangest feeling that "Heatwave" turned down ANOTHER great tune....I'm sorry Guys, I just can't help but to "Shake My Head" to that!!!!

"Smilin' On Ya" is a "Thank You For STILL Doing an Instrumental" t....It is more of a Groovy thing, but make no mistake, it STILL has the "Funk" Vibes fused into it....."Jerry Hey" also lends in some JAZZY FUNKY Trumpet.....

"Rod" and the Brothers put their heads TOGETHER to create "Closer To The One That You Love"....I'm sure again rejected by "Heatwave", this 'Strollin' Down The Street" t will make your head bob, and also brings about my "Isaac D. Body Sways"...My only gripe, TOO SHORT!!!!!

The end of the album, "Celebrations" has a "Brothers Johnson" meets "Brazil" Vibe to it....Even though it has Vocals during the Chorus (so to speak), it is still a RIGHTEOUS BUMPIN' Instrumental t, that may sound light, but has just the right TOUCH of FUNK!!!!

Well, another Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate Platinum Crown Jewel album...

"The Brothers Johnson" stock could not be ANY higher!!!! But down the line something STRANGED happened...This would be the LAST album that the Brothers worked with "Quincy Jones"...WHAT?!?!?!? Well, when "Q" left "A&M Records" (and started his own Label in "Qwest Records"), he was contractually barred from having with the Brothers....

Yeah, READ MY FOREHEAD ON THAT ONE!!!!! The Music Business!!!!!

Now, that honestly makes MORE SENSE to me!!!! I was thinking that something went down between the Brothers and "Q"...Then I found out all that MESS, and also finding out that the Brothers NEVER wanted to leave "Q"....Like I said, "The Music Business"...

Well, be that as it may be, "Light Up The Night" was the PERFECT "Block of CEMENT" in "The Brothers Johnson" Catalog and Legacy!!!!!

The first record I bought was The Brothers Johnson’s single ‘Stomp’. On the B side was Monkey Chop. Cost me $3 from a shop in Rotorua, New Zealand. I was about 10 years old.

Any comments on the quality of this cut of the record?

The A side kills it with the jams. "Stomp" bangs, of course. After noticing it as the sample in Justice's track "Newjack", really love the sound of "You Make Me Wanna Wiggle". The connection between the two elevates the futurism in The Brothers Johnson.

This record absolutely slaps, the music speaks for itself. Very high quality pressing too with an excellent mix.

Their best LP by far. Mike Jackson on background vocal also helps!

It sounds incredible but my copy has a great big blue line that looks like a marker pen right through side 2!

Great album, no doubt, BUT I alway feel as if they should have included the the full length version of 'Light up the Night'...I'd never heard the 'single' version till I purchased the album a couple of years after release!
Up until then, I had listened to the song via the 12" maxi version which feel 'right' clocking in at approx 4:55 while the LP version really feels and sounds like a 7" edit, somewhat stunted, especially after the extended workout of 'Stomp' that preceeds it.
Anyway a very good album, probably my favorite by the brothers mainly because I feel it represents a 'perfect storm' of disco/soul/funk perfection.
The 'Brothers', Quincy Jones and Rod Temperton create the perfect 'Trinity' on this album which I rate right up there with 'Off the Wall' & 'Give Me the Night'...

Of course, this record contains the number one smash, "STOMP". That really is a classic track which always has everyone boogieing. The other good thing about this record, that never fails to raise a smile, is the front cover. The way that Louis E. ‘Thunder Thumbs’ Johnson is holding the light makes it look as though he is cradling a large and fat, pink-headed tallywhacker!!